The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art will present “Into the Waters with Senju and Bingyi: Two Contemporary Paintings,” a new exhibition opening April 2 and running through Aug. 23. It features two recent paintings by Hiroshi Senju (born 1958) and Bingyi (born 1975), each offering hypnotic visualizations of water. Senju’s pair of folding screens reimagines waterfalls using traditional Japanese techniques and contemporary methods, while Bingyi’s hanging scrolls, created with cloth and paper wrapped around an uprooted tree, incorporate natural elements like sea breeze and humidity. The exhibition marks the first showing of these works, which were acquired to expand the museum’s contemporary collections.
This exhibition matters because it underscores the National Museum of Asian Art’s longstanding commitment to contemporary Asian art, being the first U.S. museum with a dedicated program in this field. By contextualizing the work of Senju and Bingyi within historical traditions, the museum highlights how these artists redefine global perceptions of Asia and the art world. The show also reflects broader trends in contemporary art, where artists blend traditional materials with bold experimentation, and it connects to environmental themes, as both artists explore water’s dual essence—nurturing yet destructive, permanent yet vulnerable.